Spring-lifting mechanism for folding couches and the like



Nov. 22, 1927.

H. J. JACOBS SPRING LIFTING MECHANISM FOR FOLDING COUGHES AND THE LIKE Filed April 8, 1925 2 Sheets- Sheet l A' fromm-'y Nov. 22, 1927.

H. J. JACOBS SPRING LIFTINGUMECHANISM FOR FOLDING COUCHES AND THE LIKE Filed April 8, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 sm. Q NN Patented Nov. 22, 1927.

, uni-rsa srATEfsj i 1,650,2i7` PATENT.ommen.

rmlvlrw JACOBS, or Berrueta-W YORK.'

sPRiNG-LIFTING MnenANIsia non FOLDING coUcH-,Es Ann. 'mail Linn.

- ApplicationV filed lApril.' 8,

- "lhis invention relates to folding-,Couches beds-oli cots Q that type having amovable sect-ion which.` is arranged toA move laterally from a closed position-Yon topV off,V a, sta.- tionary section to` an open positionl atfone side thereof. rl-rEhe invention relates par-v ticularly to improvements in the arrange-4 mentand connections` forv the liftingmech.- anism used in such structuresforthe purpose. of assisting in the` movements of-f the` movablesection duringpart of its travel and in retarding its movements duringgthere-i mainder ofaitstravel, in either direction.

Thefobjects of the` inventionare 'to' prof vide an improved. mounting and. connection for 'the springs of:y lifting mechanisms for folding couches, and? the` like' structures, whereby said springs and the connections thereforv are disposed' ina more compact foim andi accessibleY position than heretofore; also to provide an'improved connection between said' springs and, "the operating means therefor-Which isso constructed as to prevent binding between-"said springs and said operating means and is adapted to-reduce friction and Wear betweens'aidl parts to a minimum; also to constructfsaid springs and said connecting means sothat springs of 1 full lifting capaci-tycan beemployedl in a limited space, andralso toimpfro'ved lift-y ing mechanism for structures ofthe kind: described in theV other, respects hereinafter specified and claimed;

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plany view, partly in section, of a folding couch provided with lifting mechanism having operating and connecting means for the springs, constructed and arranged as an embodiment of the inf vention. A i Figs. 2 and-3 are end elevations vof the movable and stationary sections of the couch, showing the movable section in closed and partly open position respectively. l e

Fg- 4; is' a' fragmentary, transverse Secf tion ofthe couch on an enlarged' scale, on the .linel-k-v-l, Fig; 1 showingthe' movable section in open position.

Fig. 5 is asimilar view, ina slightly different transverse` plane, with the y movable section in partly open', position." Fig. 6. is 'atrehsvrse Sefionef the couch closed. y i i Fiss 7 and, 8 are respectively e freer mentary, sectional elevation and a fragmen-- 192g. Serial, No. 109,706.

tary, 'sectional ofl the connections betweenthe lifting springs andthe operating Shaft therefor- Y f f For the 'purpose of. disclosing. the` invention, a davenportv bed or couch fof Well known form 1s sli-own in theY draw-ings, 'comprising the usual upright'- end frames' 10 and back 11;, portions .only Aof whichv are shown. in 1g. 1 ,v a'stationary, horizontal spring sec' tion 12, extending between and secured' to the end sect-ions,- and a movable section. 13, which, in its'closed position, rests on top of the` section 12, Figs. 2 and `6, and'forms the. seatv of the davenport, and-'Which is mov-Y able upwardly, laterally and Vdownwardly toY a position.alongsidezthe section 112 to form a, bed, F ig. 4. The'sectionl 13-is .connected to the section, 12 by pairsof linksV` 15, 16 which yare. secured at their lower endsv by pivots 15a and-'16?rv to the end members -17 of theY section 12 and:A at their upper ends by pivots 15T and 16? tov the end members ofthe section 13'so as to permitthefsec- -,lOIl 1 3; to` move inl planes.` parallel with section 12 from-and to its closed: positionl The .sections are. provided `with the usual helical springs, Figs. 1 'and 6, for supporting cushions or. a mattress, and the end frames, andk back-may Abe upholstered in the usual manner, as iswell known. v i

' The liftingme'chanism'for the movable sectionf13 includes ay horizontal shaft or member 21, extendinglengtliwise ofthe section 12 and. intermediate of its frontv and rear sidemembers 19Y and 20, eachl end,` off' which extends through a hole in the adjacentend member: 17 i off'said' section andis rigidly-securedK at 22 to one end of a vi-ocking lever 211.v The Otherend of'this lever has a Apin l Working in a slot 26 in the link,1-5, tvhere4 by swinging movements of the linlgs y'15 about their pivots 15'nl through movement of the section 13, are imparted' tothe levers 2&1 forrockingfthe shaftf21. The shaft 21 is Provided, between, its, @11de "with, an Offset or Uesliapcd vcrank portion 2,7 to'ivhichthe inner ends vof Vpairs' of lifting coil; springs 28 and 2,9 res,pecti'vely are coupled, by ineans tote described, vhlethe outer cede v0f Said springs are attached to fixed 'clips or brackets 30, 3l or, the, Opposite SideY members 19v and. 2.0 Of the Stationary section, 1,2- vIn theonstructon Shown, the Crankshaft 2l is"` jfoultealled adiecentthe Crank 27'111 beerinsbuckets. 34,` Secured on transverse,

sor

horizontal support 35, extending between the lower portionsV of the front and rear side members of the section 12.

In the closed position of the movable section 13 (Figs. 2 and 6), the springs 29 are extended and the springs 28 are in only a slightly stretched or extended condition, so that if the section 13 is moved to its open position (toward the right in the drawings), the lifting of the section during the first part of itsmovement will be assisted by the pull of the springs 29 upon the crank 27, the springs at this time being in their most eX- tended condition. After the section passes vbeyond the intermediate position, Figs. 3

and 5, wherein the links 15 and 16 are substa-ntially vertical, the weight of the section itself will be exerted to move the Isame to open position. This movement, however, will bevresisted by the springs 28, the pulling effort of springs 29 being gradually lessened, so that the section will be prevented from dropping violently to its open position.

, cept in combination with the lelements hereinafter noted, forms no part of the invention. In order, however, to permit the necessary movements'of the section 13 relative to the section 12, and to enable the correct proportions to be maintained between these sections and the supporting links 15 and 16, lever 211 and crank shaft 21, said shaft is positioned nearer to the side member than to the side member 19 of the stationary section 12. The space available for the springs 29 is therefore less than for the springs 28, and in order to compensate for this and provide the necessary extension of the springs 29 without injury thereto, and also to provide a novel anti-friction and nonbinding connection for both pairs of springs, the following construction is employed A disk or washer 38 having a hole 39 is loosely arranged on the bowed end of the crank 27 and a shackle or link 4:1 loosely connected to the inner ends of the springs 28, extends toward and is pivotally secured at l2 to said disk 38. A similar shackle or link 43 is secured at one end by a pivot 44; to the disk 38 and at its other end is loosely connected to the inner ends of the springs 29, see Figs. 7 and 8. l This arrangement is of particular advantage in connection with the short springs 29, as in the position of the parts shown in Fig.v 6, the link 43 forms a continuation of said spring, and provides the necessary 29 lcan collapse to occupy the minimum space, while t-he link 13 hangs downward, with the connected ends of said springs, be-

low the end of the crank, thus taking up the combined length of the springs 29 and links 13 by an angular disposition of these parts. The cross member 35 is preferably. apertured to provide space for the springs 29 and link 13 in their collapsed position. The pivotal connections between the links and the disk 38 and between the disk and the crank, enables the springs and links to adjust themselves freely to the different movements of the crank without binding and with the minimum of friction.

Preferably the bowed end 40. of the crank is notched, as at 116 to form a sea-t for the disk 38 which always bears against said seat, due to the constant pull of the springs 28, thereby preventing the displacement of said disk.

The described construction of the lifting mechanism is efficient and practical, is inexpensive to produce and comprises few additional parts, which, however, add greatlyV to the life of the lifting springs and reduce the effort necessary in lifting the movable section.

I claim as my invention 1. In a folding couch, a stationary section, a section movable relatively thereto from a position above said section to a position at one side thereof, and mechanism for assisting the movements of said movable section comprising ashaftjournalled in said stationary section and which is arranged to rock when said movable section is shifted, a'U- shaped crank on said shaft having an outer end of round cross section, tension springs at opposite sides of said crank and having their outer ends secured to said stationary section, means for operatively securing the inner ends of said springs to said crank including an apertured disk rotatably mountr ed on said outer end of the latter, a connecting member pivoted to said inner ends of each of said springs and to said disk, said round outer end of said crank having a groove formed in one side thereofi and forming a seat for said disk, and one or said springs being always under tension to hold said disk vin .said seat to preventdisplacement of said disk.

2. In a folding couch, a stationary section, asection movable relatively thereto from a position above said section to aposition at one side thereof, and mechanism for assistl ing the movements of said movable section comprising a shaft journalled in said stationary section and which is arranged t0 rook when said movable section is shifted, a U-sliaped crank on said shaft having an outer end of round cross section, pairs of tension springs arranged at opposite sides of said crank and having Vtheir outer-ends secured to said stationary section,f1neans for operatively connecting the inner ends of said pairs of springs to said crank, said means comp-rising an apertured disk rotatably mounted on said outer end of said crank, a.

shackle having arms at one'end pivoted to the inner ends of one pair of saidy springs and having its other end pivoted to said disk, a, similar shackle pivoted to Said disk and connecting the inner ends of the other pair of said springs, a seat formed at one side of said crank end in which said disk engages, and one of said pairs of springs being always undei'telision to hold said disk 20 in said seat.

y HENRY J.y JACOBS. f 

